Pyrotechnic signal



No. 624,530. Patented May 9, |899. H. J. PMN. PYRUTECHNIC SIGNAL.

(Application med Feb. 7, 1898.)

(No Hodnl.)

...llnnhuvnlil 9 Nrrnn f HENRY J. PAIN, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.'

PYRQTECHNIC SIGNAL. Y

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,530, dated May 9,1899.

Application filed February 7,1898. Serial No. 669.351. (No'model.) l

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY JOHN PAIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Pyrotechni'c Signals, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to pyrotechnic devices for signaling' purposeson'land and sea and during either the day or night.

In carrying out my invention I provide similarinterchangeabletelescoping or slip holders for colored fire, each holderpreferably containing tire of only one color and the colorbeingindicated upon the exposed periphery of the holder by a band ofcolor or letters giving the name of the color. These are slippedtogether and grouped in any order desired and to any extent, accordingto the signal to be given. rlhe color-holders for givingthe signal areadapted to use in a rocket in connection with a parach ute,and by whichrocket they are carried high in the air, thecolored fire ignited, andthe same with the parachute are blown out of the rocket-head. The firesburning in successive colors indicate the signal while supported in airby the parachute. group of color-holders may be ignited and elevated toa high point upon a flagsia or the masthead of a vessel, or the same maybe connected upon the end of a stickto be held in the hand by burning.

In the drawings, Figure l represents b'y an elevation and partialsection the improvement applied to a rocket. Fig. 2 represents the sameas suspended from a parachute and the signal burning. Fig. 3 representsthe signal as upon one end of a stick to be held in the hand. Fig. 4 isa.longitudinal section of a group of color-holders with screw-cases, and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the colorholders with slip-cases.Figs. 4 and 5 are about full size and the other figures of smallerscale.

The groups of slip-holders for colored fire are represented at A A.These slip-holders are preferably made with one end larger than theother end. The'smaller end receives and holds the colored fire, and thelargerl end receives the smaller end of the next holder having a fire ofdifferent color. The holders are to be all alike and of correspondingdimen- The' sions, so as to be interchangeable, but the size isimmaterial.

In Fig. 4 the holders of the group A are represent-ed as sheetmetalshells with screwthreads, the ends a being largest and the ends bsmallest, all the ends ci being the same size, so as to be adapted toreceive the smaller end b of any other colored-fire holder, the partstelescoping or screwing together to bring the surfaces of the coloredfires cinto proximity, so that one will light from the flame of theother in succession.

In Fig. 5 the holders of the group A are represented as of paper withring centers, the ends o being largest and the ends b' smallest, all theends a being the same size and adapted to receive and slip over thesmaller end b of,

any otherholder of colored fire c. Thus rings of red, white, blue,yellow, and green, or white, yellow, red, green, and blue, or any otherarrangement of colors desired, may be brought together for signaling.

I prefer with the paper shells to gum the inner surfaces of the ends a'and the outer surfaces of the smaller end b', so that the surfaces maybe moistened previous to connecting them' and adhere thereafter, so thatin use they will not accidentally become disA connected. y

The carrier d, Fig. 4, of sheet metal, is peripherally threaded toconnect with the end d of a threaded holder, and it is provided with aneye, to which may be connected the string of a parachute D. The carrierd', Fig.

'5, is received into the end of one of the paper-holders and is suitablysupported or suspended.

The rocket-body B, as usual, contains the powder and fuse and isconnected to the stick C, and the head B .is removably connected to thebody, preferably by the screw-thread joint f. The head contains theparachute and the group of slip-holders with colored ires,which arepreferably held in place by a packing g` to prevent the fire from thebody of the rocket injuring' the parachute before and at the time saidparts are blown out of the head with the colored fire ignited, the capB2 giving way easily. The first colored tire of the groupis in closeproximity with the powder in the rocket to be readily lighted. f

W'hen the group of colored fires is to be used, as shown in Fig. 3, thecarrier d is connected with the stick or holder E, and the first colorto burn is preferably protected by an end cap having a lighting-fuse.These groups of interchangeable colored lires are adapted for use assignals in times of peace and War from forts and fields, butparticularly from vessels at sea as a means of communicating with oneanother by a Well-recognized code of colors. They can 'also be used forpyrotechnic displays. Y

I (lo not herein claim a rocket With a head screwed on to give access tothe parachute and signal for changing the latter, nor to the yieldingmaterial around the signals to protect the parachute, as these are setforth and claimed in my application, Serial No. 669,350, filed February7, 1898.

I claim as-my invention- 1. A series of signals combustible in differentcolors, each signal having a surrounding holder in the form of an openring larger at one end than at the other to be connected to the adjacentrings, the material or fire compound for the colored signal being in theform of a cake permanentlyheld within t-he smaller end of theholding-ring and having its ends exposed so that the surface of one cakeis closely adjacent to` the surface of the next cake and is firedthereby Without the intervention of a fuse, substantially as set forth.

2. A series of signals combustible in different colors, each signalAhaving a surrounding holder of paper and a larger band projecting at oneend and adapted to receive the smaller part of the next holder andadhesive material for connecting the holders, the material orr firecompound for the colored signal being in the form of a cake introducedand permanently held Within the smaller end of the holder and having itsends exposed so that the surface of one cake is closely adjacent to thesurface of the next cake and is fired thereby Without the interventionof a fuse, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 29th day of January, 1898.

HENRY J. PAIN.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, HAROLD SERRELL.

